Wallabies leader Michael Hooper has a very personal reason not to take Scotland lightly in Saturday’s Test showdown in Sydney.
“My debut was against these guys and we lost, back in 2012,” Hooper told AAP as he prepares for his 67th Test.
“So there’s never any complacency. I understand the threats they have across the field; their set piece and their ability to throw the ball.
“They showed that against the Italians last week. They scored some really good tries, long-range, exciting tries.
“We’re expecting anything. They’re out here on a tour and being on the other side for once and they’re out here to play some rugby.”
Hooper’s debut five years ago was a forgettable winter’s night in foul weather, in Newcastle, where the Scots kicked their way to a famous 9-6 triumph – their first over the Wallabies in Australia since 1982.
The 25-year-old has since developed into one of the world’s premier openside flankers – and Wallabies captain.
But he’s also well aware that the Scots have also developed into a world rugby force.
Now ranked fifth behind only world champions New Zealand, Eddie Jones’ England, Australia and Ireland, Scotland enjoyed a fine Six Nations campaign and have arrived ready to claim a big southern hemisphere scalp.
Open to a co-captaincy role with World Cup skipper Stephen Moore – who started on the bench last Saturday against Fiji – Hooper says Scotland’s transformation from dour to dazzling has been most impressive.
“With Finn Russell at 10, a guy like him, a really exciting player with ball in hand, anything can happen,” he said.
“He’s got a really nice step, a good kicking game. I’ve been really impressed with watching some reviews of him, and he controls a lot of that play and does it really well.”
Hooper branded Saturday’s showdown at Allianz Stadium as “hugely important” as the Wallabies look to build momentum and win back disillusioned fans ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Australian rugby has taken a battering in 2017 as the ARU dilly dallies around its decision on which team to cut from Super Rugby, with the Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels losing all 21 games so far to New Zealand provincial opposition.
Hooper insists the Wallabies as a collective have left the negativity behind, but he’s conscious of the need for a vibrant showing against Scotland after a paltry crowd of 13,583 turned out in Melbourne for the year’s first Test.
“We want our fans to be proud of us as a team and us as a Wallaby club,” he said.
“It’s hugely important. Momentum is such a factor in rugby. You see it in Super Rugby, you see it at Test level, so we understand the importance of this Test series.”
Xiedazhou
Guest
Ah, another who just wishes to attack the messenger, because they can't deny the message. Since when is reporting what actually transpired so distasteful to you? Perhaps it doesn't fit your narrative?
Link
Guest
Cadfeal @ A WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH !!!!!!!!!!! ..Straight over your head. I`m talking the Cheika Coaching era mate.
Cynical Play
Guest
Your comment is the only thing toxic I see here.
Jemain Okinga
Roar Rookie
Hey Fionn I would have gone with Rory Arnold, he is a little less abrasive and always seems to have a calm demeanor, he gets stuck in and is physical and genuinely seems to have a lead by example game already imo.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Spot on Link! Look at all those dreaded New South Welshman who have captained the Wallabies recently: Eales, Gregan, Pocock, Moore, Genia, Mowen, Slipper. Just look at those rotten Blues!
Cadfael
Roar Guru
My concern is the error rate. Too many unforced errrors. Two charge downs, dropped passes, passes to Neville, kicks going out that should have stayed and vice versa (including penalty kicks for the line). As well, missed tackles continue to be a problem. Fiji weren't bad but with a tighter team, we could be in trouble.
Fionn
Guest
Can't agree on Hanigan. High workrate, low effectiveness - a bit like Sam Carter, an okay backup player but not good enough for the 23. He's young though, he has a lot of time to bulk up, and since he works hard I think he'll be successful in the future.
Paul D
Guest
Finally got to watch the game. Hanigan was busy at the ruck, carried well and held his line in defence. But you're right, it's all his fault we didn't win by 50......
MitchO
Guest
Man there are some defeatists on the Roar. For all their sins we are between the second and fourth best side in the world. With hunt at 12 and Genia at 9 and Fardy not hanihan at 6 we can beat England. Yeah they won 4 in s row last year but with a balanced team we are good enough.
TwoTahs
Guest
Two words. Martin Johnson.
Jock Cornet
Guest
C'mon Scotland beat these xbox wallabies.
Adrian
Roar Rookie
Bookies say Australia by 13.5. I'd say Australia by 9.5
Bakkies
Guest
Depends on how the team perform in training
Link
Guest
Scots by 5. Foley to have a shocker. Missing 3 kicks, Missing 6 tackles and Missing 2 touchfinders ,thus costing us the game.
Link
Guest
Fionn, Moving forward. Only Waratahs are allowed to be captains as their team is the best team for producing future great test captains.Crikey even Will Skelton and Robert Horne were given a (C) and a (VC) of the Wallabies and wasn't AAC a (VC) of the Wallabies. Now we have Hooper as (C).Is Foley going to be named (VC) ?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Scotland put less points on Italy (who were down to 14 men for 20 minutes of the match) than Australia did against Fiji, and Fiji are ranked 5 placed higher in the world. I don't doubt it'll be a real test, but 21 points? pfft!!
PeterK
Roar Guru
Fionn - Suggested Coleman as the next long term captain, after serving as vc to learn the ropes. This allows Genia or TPN (or Moore this year) to be captain for a year or 2 and Coleman as VC. The biggest issue I have with Hooper as captain is that means he is guaranteed starting. It means the better 7 in Pocock will be on the bench or 2 opensiders starting.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Kirky - I am willing to bet any amount of money with you if you give me 20.5 points start on the wallabies. The question is are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I disagree, mate. I thought it was a good match. Fiji are a pretty decent team, and we beat them pretty handily. Sure, we didn't dominate possession or territory, but the stats over the last couple of years have shown us that dominating territory and possession isn't the be and end all. In fact, I think that having less possession is in many ways better, because it is far easier to score off a couple of phases off a turnover ball than through 10+ phases in which one is predictable. England did Aus a few times last year when we dominated both possession and territory, NZ sides often do it to us, and Ireland lost to both Wales and Scotland with the Lion's share of possession and territory. I thought we attacked very efficiently, and our set-piece was good, and we didn't commit 1,000 penalties. If we pick a stronger number 6 I think we will be pretty strong.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Scotland by 21 points easily ~ unless the Wallabies improve dramatically from the way they played against that 2nd tier Fiji side ~ they will lose! ~ The Jocks have been playing very good rugby of late so it's going to be a hard day for the green and yellows come Saturday!